The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-12
HENRY GEORGE AND RUSSIA.

Henry Georges paper, The Standard, is
exceedingly interesting reading, though
we think accuracy and the editors real
convictions are oftim6s sacrificed to gam
the end of sensational and interesting
because of striking novelty. In the last
issue that paper has an editorial, entitled
"The Cars American Partnership that
names as the cars partner Secretary
Bayard, and this because of the new extra
dition treaty recently signed by the United
States and Russia. Mr.. George is mcensed
because in this treaty the term political
offense" is not made to include compass
ing the life of the sovereign or any mem
Der of his family. He contends that the
car is the government, and that an at
tempt upon his life is legitimate political
revolution, aimed at the most conspicuous
mark, at the source of oppression. He
uses this strong language:
"Ihat is a false sentiment which would
justify conspiracy against the Russian
government, and even armed rebellion
while condemning a conspiracy against
the life of the czar. The czar is the gov
eminent, and the organization of tyranny
is such that there is no hope of fighting 1t
by open means. After his assassination
car as tyrannical might take his place,
one who would just as stubbornly refuse
TO concede constitutional government;
but, absolutism would become weaker with
each assassination. blow at the person
of the czar strikes at the root of political
tyranny in Russia. Why should thousands
of men throw away their lives in duel
between armies, when all the frnits of sue
cessful rebellion may be reaped by fight
ing the car himself? Is 1t human life or
only the czar's lite that is sacred!'
Both human life and the czar's life are
sacred. The sentiment in Russia against
tyrannical government has grown up, not
because of frequent attempts upon the
lives of different czars, but in spite of
such attempts; and this sentiment will
grow stronger as these attempts become
less frequent. For they are indications
not of healthy resentment against OPP
preston, but of lawless unrest under a
form of government that by firm admins
tration holds them to strict accounta
bility. Throw off this rigid government,
and this same spirit would leap to more
daring deeds, or else inaugurate govern |
ment harsher in many respects than the
one abolished. Believing in our repre-
sentative government, we of this country |
have the greatest sympathy for every |
nation grooming under a monarchial rule.
But we can neither see nor admit, that
policy of secret scheming and plotting
the death of the representative, not of
himself or an idea, but of form of gov
eminent that has come down through the |
centuries, and in whose line of descent he |
happens to stand, is any other than
mark of barbarism, and not proper
expression of the people against the
form of government itself. Russian peo-
pie cannot gain freedom by this regicidal
policy. For each ruler in turn believes
he can throw around himself those safe
guards that will protect him from the
fate of his predecessor; and the fear of
death gone, the work of these nihilists is |
rendered nugatory. The general masses
of the Russian people are being educated
up to other governmental ideas
than those that have prevailed
to this time, and to this un-
dertow of changed thought and ambi-
ton the monarchy must at last give way,
but never to the nihilist and his bomb or
dagger.
Mr.. George makes q statement about
this new treaty that is as remarkable as
it is necessary it should not be passed
without being challenged. He says:
This is treaty, be it remembered, not
between the people of the United States
and the people of Russia, but between
the people of the United States and the
master-the absolute master even to life
and death-of the people of Russia"
The treaty was made not by the people of
either country, but by the governments of
each. He has already admitted the czar
is the government; then, in treating with
him, the representative of our nation
treated with the government of Russia.
This, international law permits and sane
tions; other than this the law of nations
does not allow, as Mr.. George knows, and
he should not express himself to the con-
trary.